The following is a conversation with Daniel Schmacktemberger, a founding member of the

Consilience Project that is aimed at improving public sense-making and dialogue.

He is interested in understanding how we humans can be the best version of ourselves as individuals

and as collectives at all scales.

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As a side note, let me say that I got a chance to talk to Daniel on and off the mic for

a couple of days, which took a long walk the day before our conversation.

I really enjoyed meeting him, just on a basic human level.

We talked about the world around us with words that carried hope for our individual aunts

actually contributing something of value to the colony.

These conversations are the reasons I love human beings, our insatiable striving to

lessen the suffering in the world.

But more than that, there's a simple magic to two strangers, meaning for the first time

and sharing ideas, becoming fast friends and creating something that is far greater than

the sum of our parts.

I've gotten to experience some of that same magic here in Austin with a few new friends

and in random bars in my travels across this country, where a conversation leaves me with

a big stupa smile on my face and a new appreciation of this too short, too beautiful life.

Now is the part of the program where I do the advertisements.

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